The View Off My Deck

And they said it wouldn't last!

2010-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

On October 5th Mark and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. I clearly remember our 5th anniversary and thinking 7 years seems so long! But, boy, did those years fly by. 2 boys, 8 houses and 2 relocations later, I can honestly say I would do it all over again.

On our 10th anniversary our boys were 3 and 4 years old and we didn't want to go too far away or stay away too long. So we chose to make a weekend trip to Saugatuck, Michigan. We stayed in a charming Bed & Breakfast and had a wonderful time.

For our 25th we always thought we would take some fabulous trip somewhere exotic. However, the reality is that our boys are now a senior in high school and a sophomore in college. Next spring break we plan to take a fabulous FAMILY vacation to the caribbean. Therefore we decided to once again to take a weekend trip back to Saugatuck!

This time I rented a charming 1880's farmhouse located just a few blocks from downtown. The location was perfect and the home was as cute as can be. However, just before leaving town I came down with a raging case of bronchitis (I'm still taking meds for it!) and while it did put a damper on the trip we still enjoyed our time alone.

Here are some pictures of the house. Mark made good use of the kitchen, cooking all our meals while I napped in the family room. Have a mentioned that I love this man?

On Sunday morning before we headed home we drove to downtown Saugatuck and took some photos of the main street. The shopping in this town is fantastic. I can't wait to return when I feel better. Maybe at Christmas time.

One last stop at this farm stand and we headed home.

It was a great, relaxing time together. Here's to 25 more blissful years!

Fall Has Arrived!

2010-10-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

My house shines in the fall. No really, it does! It was made for fall and winter decorating. I love warm and cozy colors and it is reflected in the paint colors I chose for our home.

When we lived in Florida everything was painted in cool tones. We practically lived outdoors by the pool and with all that sunshine fall colors just didn’t fit. But once we relocated back to Indiana I let my nesting instincts take over.

This weekend I got bit by the decorating bug and added some autumn décor to the house. I LOVE how it looks and how it feels.

Sadly, for Mark, this obsession with redoing is just getting started. I recently found two sensational decorating blogs that I’ve been scouring for ideas. If you need a little inspiration check out Centsational Girl and The Inspired Room.

But be warned. You will need to fill up your mug with hot tea and grab your favorite throw to cover up with before you sit down. You’ll be there awhile!

A day spent with family is always the best!

2010-10-12T05:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a busy day by any definition! We joined members of our family in Walking For Hospice and then met up with the rest of the clan to celebrate all the October birthdays.

This is our second year in participating in the Walk for Hospice. This wonderful organization has played a big role in our family in recent years. Both Grandpa and then Grandma Stephens were blessed to have Hospice support when they needed them the most. The support they gave to our family at that time was priceless. There is no way we can ever really pay back all they have done for us but we feel like taking part in the Walk is a small way of showing our support.

Andy Zutter, Mark and Mr. Zutter walked as a team and covered at least 3 miles!

Aunt Connie and Mom cross the finish line and brought snacks for the whole table!

Mom, Aunt Connie and Dad come in for a much needed rest.

Abby made the sweetest memory heart for Grandma and Grandpa.. She colored it with hearts and balloons and posted it on the memory board. Such a cutie pie!

Part of the team takes a break. It was HOT out there. Much different than last year when we froze!

I love this picture of Andy and Mark. They have been friends for over 30 years! Andy was walking with his dad in memory of his mom who passed away last year.

After the walk we all headed over to Aunt Sue and Uncle Keith's to celebrate the October birthdays. The birthday kids were Mom, Aunt Connie and Uncle Keith.

Alex is telling great-grandma the cupcake he wants. I think is was the one with the bat ring on top!

Aunt Connie got lots of good smelling lotions and candles.

Mom with her loot!

Uncle Keith is the "baby" of the bunch!

I've been blessed with the best family ever! Spending an entire day with them is always the best kind of day!

Andy’s Senior Photos

2010-09-06T16:59:00.001-07:00

I will admit, I spent a small fortune on these photos. But how is a mom to choose when they all turned out so well?!

He’s a handsome young man don’t you think?

ND Football Practice 2010

2010-08-19T18:48:00.001-07:00

There are so many benefits for working at Notre Dame. This year alone I have had lunch in the press box, met Digger Phelps, Brian Kelly, Joe Montana and stood in the presence of Father Hesburgh.
I’m able to walk the lakes or visit the grotto during my lunch hour. On football fridays we can, many times, hear the band from our building which is just steps from the stadium. The campus is at it’s most beautiful during the fall when football season arrives.
This week I had yet another new experience, our MBA Admissions team was able to watch one of the football practices. After practice we were invited to join the players on the field to hear Coach Kelly speak and I was able to take photos. It was a great experience! As I always say…..I love my job!

Summer Ball

2010-08-10T05:16:00.001-07:00

For the past 14 years, summer meant sitting in the stands watching the boys play baseball. (With the exception of our years in Florida when winter meant sitting in the stands watching the boys play baseball, a confusing concept for an Indiana girl like myself!)

Last year Ben graduated from high school and his years of summer ball came to an end. Then Andy decided to hang up his baseball shoes and take up golf. What were Mark and I to do with all this free time? Our camping chairs, cushions for sitting on the stands and our small cooler all found storage space in our garage. We reveled in this new found freedom! But in truth, we missed summer ball.

This summer Ben joined The South Bend Cardinals. It’s a baseball team of men and college boys who play in a local league purely for the love of the game. Ben is playing with some of his teammates from high school and a couple of his best friends. There are no practices during the week, just games on the weekend. This is great for Ben’s arm (a story I’ll write about later. It involves a skateboard, two surgeries, a lot of metal and screws and one cadaver bone). Mark and I have caught a couple of innings but last weekend my parents and I got out our chairs and cooler and enjoyed a Saturday afternoon watching the Cardinals, and Ben, play.

Andy, on the other hand, has found his summer ball mojo in a completely different way. Last summer my brother-in-law asked Andy to sub in a couple of his wiffle ball league games. Well, this summer Andy became a starter on The South Bend Sour Wowers Wiffle ball team. And he is having a blast! Until Andy joined this team we had no idea how popular wiffle ball really is! A quick visit to the Sour Wowers website set us straight! The team clinched the wild card spot and are currently in the playoffs.

Might look a little different than what we are used to but it’s summer time……………….PLAY BALL!

And Yet Another Update……..

2010-08-09T07:34:00.001-07:00

Back in February I started another blog, The Faces of My Family, in order to document the genealogical research I have been doing. I thought I could keep up with both blogs but once Faces debuted, The View Off My Deck was neglected.
Yesterday I received a comment on this blog from my genealogy friend Rootdigger teasing me about my update from January 2010! It was just the nudge I needed to resurrect this blog!
Since I ended with an update from seven months ago, I guess I’ll start with one to get 2010 up to date!
After our wonderful New Year’s celebration with Bill and Jackie, we got back to the business of, well, being busy!
In January the Clay Boys Bowling Team competed and advanced through, sectionals and regionals and found themselves once again in semi-state competition. The boys had to compete that day without their anchor bowler and, although they bowled their hearts out, they weren’t able to make the cut that would send them back to state. But never let it be said this team doesn’t know how to celebrate a season!

The parents aren't too shabby at celebrating themselves!

In February I made my annual girl’s trip to LaPorte for a scrapbook weekend at Michelle’s Memory Loft. Each year we return for a few days of no make-up, pajama wearing, chick flick viewing, food, laughter and fun (with a little bit of scrapbooking thrown in!)

April was a busy month. We celebrated Easter at my Aunt’s with all the cousins present (except for Pat, Steph, Will and Ella who we miss terribly).

April also brought the Youth State Bowling Tournament in Indianapolis. This was the last year that Ben, Richie and Daniel were competing. Andy is the lone team member who will still bowl in 2011 which made this state tournament bittersweet.

Speaking of changes, after 12 years of playing baseball, Andy made the decision to hang up his cleats and pick up his golf bag. In April he tried out for and made the Clay Boys Golf Team! Since we live on the ninth hole of one of the golf courses we were able to jump our back fence and follow the team for a couple of matches this season. It was quite a change from sitting in the baseball stands, one I really loved. Can’t wait for next season!

May brought about two exciting events! Mom, Aunt Connie and I made a research trip to Wabash, Indiana in search of an old abandoned graveyard containing some of our family members. We spent two days tromping through cemeteries and asking locals if they had ever heard of America Cemetery and where it might be located. On the second day we got lucky and were able to determine the location. I donned my hiking boots, cut through a backyard and entered the forest where I was rewarded with the following sight!

This is heaven to a genealogist’s eyes! Lots of stories to tell about this trip. Too much for this update but I’ll be going back in October to attempt to replace stones that have fallen over. I can’t wait!
Also in May my nieces graduated from high school. The cousins are stair stepped. First there’s my niece Rachel (now an incoming Junior at Notre Dame), then Ben (an incoming Sophomore at Manchester), then my nieces Sarah and Dana (incoming Freshman at Purdue and Saint Mary’s) and then Andy (entering his senior year at Clay High School). Their graduation was a celebration for the whole family. Gosh, I love those girls so much!

In June, as a result of my other blog, I was able to connect with distant family members! Mom and I traveled to Kokomo to meet Jean and DeeDee to get to know each other and compare our family research. Do you know that feeling when you meet someone and you immediately feel comfortable with them? That’s how it was for mom, DeeDee, Jean and I! In fact, we have a research trip planned together for October!

The rest of June was spent in travel. Andy made college visits to Manchester, Butler and Valparaiso. He also made a solo trip back to Tampa to visit with friends we miss since our move to South Bend in 2006. I have, of course, no pictures of that trip. That’s what you get when you send a 17 year old boy someplace by himself!
My final update is our yearly trip to the lake in July. We have been making this trip since the boys were little and it is still the highlight of our summer. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So I’ll let these pictures speak for themselves.

That’s it! A whirlwind tour of the first seven months of 2010! Let’s hope I do a better job of staying up to date the last five!

A Year in Review

2010-01-02T10:05:00.001-08:00

I’ve been a blogging slacker as Patty calls it! Things got a bit crazy around here in November when I posted my last entry and I never got back on track. But it’s a new year and I vow to do better!

So, to get all caught up, I thought I would do a year in review. If I had to sum up 2009 in one word, it would be……change.

To start the year Andy and I, along with Mom and Dad, headed to Disney World for one last vacation before the “paying for college” years began! I have to say that this turned out to be my favorite Disney trip (beside the first one when the boys were little). That is saying a lot since we have made MANY trips to the happiest place on earth. This trip came just at the right time. Who doesn’t love a little sun and fun in January? And I was in desperate need of a vacation around this time.

February was filled with surprises. The high school bowling team, which included both Ben and Andy as part of the starting 5, had spent most of the season in the middle of the conference and missed an opportunity to repeat for the 4th year in a row as conference champs. But they found their groove in post season play. They placed in sectionals, regionals and stunned everyone by winning semi-state! In February we traveled to Anderson, Indiana and competed for the state title, finishing in 3rd place. It was such an exciting time for everyone but even more special for Mark and I since the boys experienced it together. This was also the day I pushed my way between arms, legs and elbows and stood on my tip toes to watch Ben throw his last ball as a Colonial. His high school bowling career was over but what a season he had as a senior! He threw a perfect 300 game the first match of the season and made first team all state and the all state academic team. He managed to win a bowling scholarship which he will have for all four years of college.

Throughout the spring we kept busy following the Varsity (Ben) and JV (Andy) high school baseball teams for Clay and helping Ben make a final decision on college. In May we took the field on senior night and Ben played his last game as a Colonial. It was bittersweet knowing the seniors would be going their separate ways in the Fall. After all those year of sitting in the stands together we parents have made it a priority to still get together every month to stay connected and to keep up with the boys who have gone to different colleges.

In May, Ben graduated cum laude from Clay High School. We threw a big party to celebrate! He, along with Cody, decided to attend Manchester College to major in Accounting and continue their baseball careers. Having attended Manchester myself, I was thrilled with that decision and the fact that he is a mere 1hour and 45 minutes from home.

In July we took our annual vacation to the lake and enjoyed 7 days of relaxing sunshine. We have been taking this trip since the boys were little and it is the highlight of our summer every year. This year seemed more special since it was the last one before Ben left for school and he took the whole week off work and spent it with us. I manage to catch NO fish but did spend my days laying on the beach reading and floating on the lake catching plenty of rays!

The month of August brought about the most change for our family. My parents sold the business they owned all of my life and retired.

Ben moved to college and began playing baseball for the Spartans. It is taking some getting used to seeing him in black and gold (the colors of our high school rivals the Penn Kingsman) instead the purple and gold of Clay high school!

Also, I went back to work full-time for the first time since Andy was born. I had been working part time for the MBA Admissions department at Notre Dame and in August I officially became a member of the team. I love my job and the people that I work with which I realize is unusual for most people! The word I use the most when describing my work situation is…..blessed.

In September, Mark and I decided to Walk for Hospice and asked if anyone would like to join us. To our surprise 16 others joined us in raising money for this awesome organization filled with remarkable volunteers. What a perfect day we had for the walk!

November brought another major celebration for us. My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. My brother and I had been planning their party for over a year and the day turned out beautiful! The party went off without a hitch and mom and dad were thrilled.

December brought numerous holiday celebrations including the annual Swanson eggnog party at Scott and Anna’s.

Dad was in the hospital for tests just before Christmas and ended up having surgery. He made it home in time for the family Christmas Breakfast which was cause for extra celebration!

We topped off 2009 the same way we ended 2007 and 2008….with the Schell’s. This year we bowled better than ever and Bill and I beat Mark and Jackie in cribbage long before midnight! (Last year it took until 2am).

To sum it up, 2009 was filled with endings, new beginnings and celebrations for me. I don’t know what 2010 will bring but I do know that for today…..I feel blessed. And ready for the future.

Happy New Year!

Lisa

Andy Turns 17!

2009-11-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

In the midst of preparing for my parents 50th wedding anniversary party and beginning preparations for hosting Thanksgiving, Andy had his 17th birthday on November 10th.

I know everyone tells you how fast time will pass when you are a new parent but, gosh, it is so true! I remember very clearly the morning Andy was born. He arrived at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Hospital during Regis and Kathie Lee! He didn’t cry much and really never did. He was the perfect baby! He slept through the night at six weeks, no colic, no fussing. Mark likes to say that if we had Andy first and could guarantee that all of our children would be just like him, we would have had 10!

And he did grow up so fast!

I’ve been looking back at photos in preparation for the anniversary party and have run across many of Andy growing up through the years. Here’s a flashback of some of my favorites:

He will always be the "baby" of the family but now, standing at 6'2" and growing, he is no longer our little boy. He just remains that in my mind and in my heart.

A Writer in the Family

2009-10-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

Back in September of 2001 Mark's job took us to Tampa. Andy had just started 3rd grade in South Bend and he had to move part way into the year to a new school in Florida. I remember going to his first parent-teacher conference and being very nervous. I wondered how the transition had gone for Andy in the classroom and I wondered about this new school and new teacher.

Her name was Ms. Alonso and she turned out to be wonderful, as did Andy's conference. She told me what a good student Andy and especially what a great writer he was. In fact, she said, I set aside this paper he wrote about his cat. I thought you'd like to read it. I took the paper from her, read it, and had to agree, it was wonderful! Very descriptive and detailed. The only thing is.....Andy didn't have a cat. Never did, never will (I'm way too allergic). When I asked
Andy why he wrote about a cat he told me "I just felt like it". Too funny! And that's when we found out....Andy can write!

Last year Andy wrote a paper in school for a contest in which he ended up being a finalist. It was all about his trip to Washington, D.C. Again, a wonderful, well written paper. We were proud. And not a bit surprised that Andy could write a paper about a trip he had, in fact, never taken!
After all...Andy can write!

So this year, when Andy signed up for Newspaper at school, Mark and I thought that was a good idea. We knew he could write! Two weeks into the class Andy was made News Editor and assigned three stories to write. And this issue, the second of the year, all three of those stories appeared! Including the front page story on Homework, Too Much or Too Little.

Mark and I weren't surprised. After all...... Andy can write!

Walk for Hospice

2009-10-11T16:43:00.001-07:00

Hospice entered into our family when Grampy got sick and passed away in 1994. He hadn't been sick too long, just a couple of short months, so his death was devastating to our family. Hospice was there to help keep him comfortable and at home those last few weeks and was there for our entire family as we tried to deal with the shock of losing him.

In 2008 when Grammy, who was in a nursing home, took a turn for the worse, Hospice was again there to make her comfortable and also to counsel the family on how to let go. I can't describe how important their support was during that time. There really aren't words to thank them for caring about us and taking such loving care of grandma.

So this year when the Walk for Hospice came around I sent out a message asking for anyone who might want to walk with me. And many family and friends responded. Hospice has blessed so many families and everyone, it seemed, wanted the chance to give back to them.

So, today, on a brisk but sunny fall day, we all gathered at Newton Park and walked in support of Hospice.

Here is a group shot of 11 members of our 18 person team. Tricia Morton, Mom, Jon, Darcy, Mr. Zutter, me, Aunt Connie, Dane, Sarah and Dana Rigby and Abby. Missing are Dad, Garrett, Sally, Jada, Mady, Alex and Sterling.

Tricia, Mr. Zutter, Mark and I all walked together and managed to go 4 miles. It went by so fast with the four of us talking and laughing and sharing the day together.

They provided a Memorial Board for anyone who wanted to share. I wasn't prepared for this so just wrote what was in my heart. We miss you Grammy and Grampy.

The Zutter family also has been the recipient of Hospice loving care. Mr. Zutter wrote a beautiful memorial to Mrs. Zutter. Today was their wedding anniversary and she walked with us in spirit.

Here a shot of Mr. Zutter and Mark after we crossed the finish line. What a special day to support a special organization.

Hospice is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of living through physical and spiritual care of the patient and their family. No one is ever turned away due to an inability to pay for their service. They rely on the support of the community and financial gifts.

To learn more about Hospice click the link below:

http://www.centerforhospice.org/

Peace,

Lisa

24 Years

2009-10-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

Today Mark and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary. And this is what he sent to me at work. 24 perfect long stem red roses.

What a hubby!

But that isn't the whole story of our courtship. Mark and I actually met in high school and starting dating when I was 15 and he was 16. That makes our years together top out at 32.

In honor of our anniversary I dug out some of the pictures taken while we were young!

Boy did that time fly by! Here's to 24 more years together!

Manchester Baseball

2009-09-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Jackie and I took a trip down to Manchester to watch Ben and Cody in their first pre-season, inter-squad baseball game.

It was a BEAUTIFUL afternoon to enjoy the games and we saw baseball played at the College level for the first time. Wow, what a difference! So much hustle! At one point the player at first ran for a foul ball, hit the fence face first, went off the field for 5 stitches and then returned later to reenter the game!

Ben played for the Gold team and Cody played for the Black team. Both played third base ,which is Ben’s position, but a new position for Cody. It looked kind of strange seeing him standing at third!

During the third game they brought Cody in to pitch for a couple of innings. And who is the first batter he faced? Ben! What are the odds? Cody did great, he threw between 84 and 85 mph. Ben, however, is used to facing Cody and managed a base hit. It was so much fun seeing them both up at the same time , Jackie and I had our cameras flashing away!

After the game we had just a few minutes to visit in the parking lot before they headed out to ice their arms and go to dinner. It was good to see them. Gosh, are they missed…….

Notre Dame Football Season Is Here!

2009-09-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Moving In

2009-08-31T11:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we dropped Ben off at college. This is the sign that greeted us at the entrance to campus.

And this is the WONDERFUL site that greeted us as we pulled up to the dorm! Dozens of student waiting to unload the vehicles and move all the items into the room. In about 10 minutes time they unloaded 4 vehicles and we had them moved to the parking lot. (They unloaded the van, Ben's car, Cody's car and Bill and Jackie's van).

This is just half of the hallway outside their room when we got inside. The boys needed to go get the key to their room before we pulled into the circle but we missed that instruction! We also missed the instruction that the boys were to have their student ID's with them at lunch that day......oh well, I'm sure we weren't the only ones and I'm sure Ben and Cody have got it together by now!

This is a photo of their door decorated by their Student Orientation Leaders. They were kind of bummed. Cody is NOT a Dolphins fan and Ben is REALLY NOT a Vikings fan! But they will survive.

Once we got inside Ben and Cody got to work stacking their beds and deciding how to set up the room. The parents stood aside for as long as we could stand it but ended up jumping in to help. Which I'm sure Ben and Cody appreciated! (Not really!)

Here's Jackie trying to make sense of it all!

The boys finally accomplished the bed situation and thought they would take a short break. Very short break!

And a final shot of the roomies before we headed off to lunch and goodbye's.

It was an exciting day and a bittersweet one for us parents. It's so hard to let your children grow up. But I love what my friend Tricia said (she always says such wise things just at the right moment.)

It's a wonderful time and exactly what we raised them to do. Why does it tug at our hearts so much? Time to see them through a different set of eyes. Tough when I LOVED the other way. A new chapter in our lives...

I have loved raising Ben. The best time of my life will always be when the four of us lived together as a family. (also a Triciaism!) But this is a new chapter in both our lives. And, I'm excited to see the man he will become.

LC Typesetting

2009-08-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

My mom and dad retired today.

They sold the family business and closed on the sale of the building today.

All my life my parents have owned LC Typesetting. They worked side by side for over 40 years building up that business. It's not easy being a small business owner but they stuck it out all these years. They changed with the times, time and time again. I'm so proud of them for the example they gave my brother and I about hard work, dedication and compassion.

Located just a few doors down from the Homeless Center, my dad gave a job to anyone who asked. Sometimes it was nothing more than a few dollars to shovel the sidewalk or a few more to paint the side of the building. I've lost track of how many times the side of that building has been painted! It didn't matter what the job was, it gave someone dignity and that's what mattered to dad. To both my parents, because they are selfless givers, both of them.

I know making the decision to retire has been hard for them, especially for my dad. But in doing so, they have given a priceless gift to this community. They sold the building to the Homeless Center and it will now be renovated as a shelter for Homeless Veterans.

The look of the building will change but I will always remember the years it housed LC Typesetting. I'll remember dad's wall of photos of his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids and all their drawings. I'll remember my boys riding their motorized cars from one end of the shop to the other. Mostly I'll remember the sound of my dad's voice answering the telephone "LC Typesetting".

I love you Mom and Dad. Enjoy your retirement!

You deserve it.

He's a Junior!

2009-08-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

I always take a photo on the first day of school each year. This year Andy wanted to wait until his second day of school. His first day he had to wear a Clay tee shirt and shorts in his role as a Freshman Mentor. So this is actually the second day of his Junior Year.

Have a great year, Andy. Enjoy every moment!

Senior Pictures

2009-08-19T03:44:00.001-07:00

Like most parents, Senior pictures were a big deal to me. To Ben? Not so much. So in the Fall of his Senior year we had a disagreement as to which poses he would sit for, how many clothing changes he would make, etc.……. So, we decided to postpone the photos until Spring.

Bad planning on my part.

Spring brought baseball season and all the Seniors decided to mohawk their hair! So much for Senior pictures. So we had to wait until the hair grew back.

In the meantime, Kelli’s mom scheduled Kelli’s Senior pictures to be taken by Jenny Hoke Photography up at Lake Michigan. We got in on that action and here are the results.

If you live in the Michiana area you must contact Jenny Hoke Photography. She is the best!

July at the Lake

2009-08-11T19:09:00.001-07:00

This year at the lake was the best ever! Best weather, best company, best memories.

It was the first year that Jan rented too and that was the best. This year Patty and Carrie came up with Carrie’s kids and loved it so much they rented for next year! This year was the first visit to the cottage for my new great nephew Connor. He came to visit us at 6 days old!

We celebrated Abby’s 5th birthday and my cousin from Austin came with her family for a couple of days. Just an awesome time!

I can’t wait to go back…..

This is the life for me! Andy meets Connor. Andy in his shades Ben with his grandma’s Alex loved the sand! Ben gets attacked! He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.Kelli and Darcy Mark drowning worms Bonfire at night Chillin at the beach The cousins, Ella and Abby. Happy birthday Abby!

June 27, 2009

2009-08-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

June through August is graduation party season. And we have been very busy this season. Our first party was in May and our last is today (August 9th). So far we have all been lucky and had no rain to ruin things. (Trish and Jim came close but the rain stopped at 3:59 and their party started at 4:00....no lie!)

The day of Ben's party was bright and sunny. We had rented a tent in case of rain but instead were grateful to have it for shade from the sun!

The party was scheduled from 2-4 but the first guests arrived at 1pm and the last left at 1am. It was a blast.

Here are some photos from the day.....

The late night crew! They made valient effort to float the keg but had to call it quits around midnight!

Tom Tom. One of Ben's friends from grade school. Off to Purdue next week!

That's my girl, Kelli. I get to keep her for another year. Thank goodness!

Tyler and Barb competing in the Cornhole Tournament which went on all day!

Matt and Katie, also off to Purdue.

Mom and Dad Knight. (Kelli's parents)

Mama Eck, Katie and Mama Morton. (Ben has many mothers besides me....it take a village you know!)

Cody and Hannah. Cody is heading to the same college as Ben. Hannah is off to IU Bloomington.

Brendan and Kaitlyn.

The roomies!

More views of the tournament.

It turned out to be the perfect day. Lots of family and friends who celebrated with us, support us always and love our kids. Who can ask for more?

Peace,

Lisa

The Great Debate

2009-08-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

I've been debating with myself for several weeks now.

When I started this blog it was with the intention of keeping up with my friends in Florida and to share stories and photos with our family.

I thought it would be fun and a great diary of our lives. I was right in many ways but somewhat naive in others. Because my blog is public anyone can read it. Anyone who cares to google my name can find it, and not everyone wishes me well.

So, I've been debating. Do I shut the blog down? Do I keep it going just as I have? And after many weeks of agonizing over this I've decided to do both. I will keep the blog going but I will be very careful to not share certain information here.

And I'm excited again! So much has happened since I posted Ben's graduation video. I have some catching up to do......better get writing!

Peace,
Lisa

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.
- Robert Frost

The Video

2009-06-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

I've been stressing about the video for the graduation party for quite some time now. I really wanted to show one but don't have the skills to put one together. That's when Kim mentioned that Emily might be willing to put it together for me. (Emily is Kim's daughter). So last week I got all the info together and sent it down to Tampa. Yesterday Em emailed me that the video was done and posted on YouTube for me to view. Wow!!!!

Emily, I can't thank you enough for making my dream come true.

Graduation

2009-05-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Ben graduated on Sunday ending 13 years of public school. Would I do public school again? Well, that's a discussion for another post!

But, back to Sunday. It all happened so fast. Not just the growing up years but the actual day! Pictures at the house at 11:30, down to the Century Center by 12:15, the ceremony started at 1:00 and was all over by 2:15. Wow, that was fast. Having a last name that starts with an E, Ben was towards the front of the class and got in line for the stage right away. I waited in anticipation to see if they would pronounce his name right, they did and he walked across so fast I couldn't get a good picture! It all happened so fast.

And the tears had already started for me. In front of Ben was Hannah and then Katie, then came Ben, Tommy, Cody, Matt and Tyler. Plus a bunch of classmates that Ben had graduated from kindergarten with. I cried a bit at each of their names and looked in wonder at the young men they had become. It was a bittersweet day for me.

Here are some photos taken before and after the ceremony. I got some good pictures during the service but NONE of Ben! I just couldn't get a good shot of him. Thank goodness for the professional photographer there!

With the family. Yes, my eyes are closed, arghhhh...

With the grandparents.

Ben and Matt before the ceremony.

The graduates! (Ben, Cody, Tyler and Matt)

Celebrating at Red Robin with Tyler's family. (Ben, Kelli, Kayley and Tyler)

It was a beautiful graduation and a gorgeous day. I'm so proud of him. Did I mention he graduated Cum Laude?........

Classic Champs!

2009-05-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

What a weekend for the seniors on the Clay baseball team.

They graduated yesterday and won the Reinebold Classic today!

Way to go boys!

Graduation pictures tomorrow.........

Home Run!

2009-05-23T12:45:00.001-07:00

During the first game of the Reinebold Classic this morning Ben hit a beautiful 350 foot home run just left of center field! Of course, I didn't have my camera out and ready but I did get a few shots once he rounded the bases.

I managed to get a picture of him crossing home plate as the team ran out to congratulate him. Ben is #2.

And this one of the celebration continuing on his way back to the dugout. He is 5th from the left in this picture.

It was the second trip out to the field the team made this morning. Earlier Connor hit a home run. That was a back to back for Connor. He hit one last night down in Kokomo also.

And the inning before Tyler hit a beautiful triple that would have gone over the fence had it just had one more puff of air to carry it!

Game 2 is tonight at 7:00 pm. GO COLONIALS!

Senior Night

2009-05-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

Ever since Ben started playing High School baseball I sorta dreaded this night. Every year when the seniors and their parents were introduced I sat in the stands and cried. I was really worried I wouldn't be able to hold it together for Ben's senior night.

Well, tonight was the night. And I did fine! Of course, it all happened so fast it was a blur to me!

Here are some photos from tonight:

We had six seniors this year. We actually had seven but one didn't finish the season.

Here's a shot of the three of us on the field. Can you believe that Ben has been playing baseball for about 13 years and I have never been on a baseball field before?!?!?

Here's the group. Ben, Tyler, Cody, Matt and Lewis. Mark is missing from the photo.

Typical clowning around photo of Jackie, Barb and I. Jackie and I are looking at four more years together since Ben and Cody will be roommates at Manchester next year.

We still have a game in Kokomo on Friday, the Reinebold Classic this weekend and Sectionals starting next week. Ben hasn't played his final high school baseball game yet.

Let's see if I can hold it together that night.......

Obama is in town

2009-05-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

In case anyone has been living under a rock, Obama was chosen to deliver the commencement speech at Notre Dame today.

The controversy has been immense. Protestors have made going to work everyday a bit unpleasant. But it will all be over with today. Life on campus should get back to normal.

At the last minute today mom and I decided to take a ride out to the airport and try to see Air Force One land. They didn't publish his schedule but using what I knew about the schedule for graduation today, we took an educated guess. And planned it PERFECT.

We had just parked the car, got out and headed for a good viewing spot when Air Force One came into view. So quick that we didn't get a shot of the actual landing.

Here are some of the best shots from today.

After

2009-05-15T17:46:00.001-07:00

Ben lives in the basement.

Well, technically it's a lower level walkout but Ben chose the one room without a window as his bedroom. This is because he wants complete darkness when he sleeps.

Mark and I agreed to this arrangement because, frankly, we had spent the last 15 years living on the same level with him and nagging, constantly, for him to clean up his room.

So, Ben lives in the basement. And Mark and I stay away as much as possible. He was allowed to paint it any color he wants (hence the lovely shade of green you see) and, for the most part, he can live in complete filth all he wants.

But all parents have their limits and once in awhile, when Mark or I must wander into his room, we reach ours. And then we insist he clean it up. NOW.

Today was one of those days. And, thanks to Kelli (have I mentioned how much I love this girl?) it got cleaned. And I have the photos to prove it.

These are the After shots. Wait a couple of days and I'll show you the Before.

They will make your skin crawl.........

Back to Back

2009-05-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

Tonight's baseball game was at St. Joe. I love playing at the St. Joe field because the Varsity and JV fields are back to back. This means I can sit at the top of the Varsity bleachers and watch both games at the same time. That means I can get a picture of Andy playing second on the JV field:

Then turn around in time to catch Ben at the plate on the Varsity Field:

Although neither JV or Varsity brought home a win tonight, the home crowd enjoyed a beautiful night for a baseball game:

Prom 2009

2009-04-27T08:20:00.001-07:00

Senior Prom was Saturday night. Ben and Kelli went with Cody and Hannah, Kaylie and Tyler, Angela and Connor, Mark and Leslie and Kayla and Paul. They rented a stretch limo to take them to LaSalle Grill for dinner, the prom at Century Center and the after prom at Strikes and Spares.

It was a beautiful night as the pictures show:

Happy 1st Birthday to Alex

2009-04-24T11:08:00.001-07:00

Alex is my great nephew and, I'm sure you will agree, is the most adorable baby ever! Well, besides my own of course.

Happy 1st Alex, your Aunt Lisa loves you!

This one is for Kim....

2009-04-23T12:51:00.000-07:00

Not the best picture, but this cardinal and I started our day together this morning. We had a brief conversation, brief because is was a bit one sided :) I thanked him for reminding me of a person I love and miss very much. Hope you had a wonderful day today too!

Your BFF,

Lisa

Back to my obsession!

2009-04-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

BK (before kids) I read all the time. In fact, I read so much, I remember Mark complaining about it when we were first married. But over the years and with the raising of two children, my book obsession took a back seat to real life.

Over the past couple of weeks and with the help of http://www.paperbackswap.com/, I have renewed my love of reading.

With the exception of the Twilight Book series, I really haven't done much reading since I was at the lake in July. But over the last few weeks I have read:

Memoirs of a Geisha which was a great "epic" novel detailing the life of a Geisha during the 1930's and 1940's and covering the period when we were at war with Japan.

I loved entering the mysterious world of the Geisha and about the Japanese culture and people. It's a great read but not when I would call a "light" read.

I just finished:

The Glass Castle. Excellent book! I read it in two days only because I started it at night and fell asleep reading. If I had started it in the morning I promise you nothing would have gotten done around my house that day. The book is that good!

It's the true story of Jeannette Walls childhood with her parents who refused to work and her brother and sister. While living in the most extreme poverty and enduring incredible neglect, Jeannette overcomes it all to be a successful writer for MSNBC. I highly recommend it!

Right now I'm reading:

On The Road. This is the book that inspired the Beat generation. It chronicles the life of the author as he travels North America in search of
self-knowledge and experience.

I've wanted to read this book for many years but for some reason it has just sat on my bookshelf gathering dust. While I wanted to read it just to see what all the fuss is about, it's not one that has gotten my attention like the Bill Bryson books have. The humor that Bryson uses in describing his travels make reading about the adventure more fun than On The Road. To me, On The Road is a more gritty read. But, like I said, I'm only about 1/2 way done. I'll save my final opinion for later.

While I don't normally like to read two books at once, I'm feeling the urge to reread my favorite book from last year:

I usually read my books then pass them on. Or, more recently, repost them on Paperbackswap. But this book is a keeper. It touched something in me.

It's a book about self-discovery and changing the direction of your life.

Maybe because I feel like my life is in transition with my boys growing up and leaving home, but I feel a connection with the author.

Whether you've ever experienced a major change in your life or even have had a desire to try something outside of your comfort zone, Eat, Pray, Love is a book every woman should read.

What about you? What good books have your read lately?

A Belated Happy Easter

2009-04-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are LOVING Ben's baseball mohawk......so much for taking senior pictures anytime soon. And no holiday photo op is complete without Ben and Mark making an Andy sandwich.

Hope your Easter was as blessed as ours!

Lisa

Monday, April 6, 2009.....Really

2009-04-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

I freely admit that the view off my deck has not looked like the photo in my sidebar for a couple of weeks.

Yesterday I meant to replace it with my current view but it was raining. And this morning I woke up to this view.

No really, I'm not kiddding, there is snow on the ground again!

I'm guessing the varsity baseball game is cancelled for tonight........

A Man, A Truck and Ebay

2009-03-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

This past week I found myself on a bit of an ebay kick. I bought two Cricut cartridges I've been wanting and a Cricut Tote Carrier. I got them all at a great price!

But it reminded me of how the "redneck" truck came into our possession and the hilarious story behind it.

A couple of winters ago Mark got a new car. He got the "man toy", a Saab convertible. It promptly went into storage that winter while he continued driving the Durango. In April of that year Ben got his drivers license and he inherited the Durangeo which meant Mark was now driving the Saab full time. All was well until winter came around again. That's when Mark declared that he couldn't drive the Saab in the wintertime. For goodness sake it might get wet! :) So he decided to look for a beater truck that he could pay cash for to drive in the wintertime. Besides, then we would have it to "haul stuff" when we needed to.

The other thing you must know about Mark is that while he works on a computer all day he really doesn't surf the internet. Ever. Not ever. So he knows nothing about wonderful sites like ebay.

So, I'm at work one day and Mark calls me and says his boss told him about ebay and he is just looking around and wondered if we have a password already set with them. Since I have been buying and selling on ebay for years, of course we do! He asked what it is, I gave it to him and THEN I asked if he was placing a bid. He said yes, I asked on what, and he said.........a TRUCK!!! Hellooooo, most people start small on ebay!

Long story short, Mark won his first and only ebay auction and was now the owner of a beater truck....soon to be called the redneck truck because of the lift kit, camaflouge seat covers, and the loudest muffler ever! I swear I could hear him pull into the subdivision's entrance at night.

The truck lived up to its reputation. We constantly had to have it towed in for repair. So much so that I was sure AAA was going to cancel us for taking unfair advantage of the towing package.

But the best story was the muffler fiasco. Mark put an extender on the muffler as a way of keeping the gas fumes from filling up the truck cab but also to try and muffle some of the noise. So one day Mark takes the redneck truck over to the high school parking lot just as school is letting out (I don't remember why) and just as Ben and his friends approach the truck, it backfires, and the extension on the muffler comes flying off! Now I still find that story funny to the point of laughing until my stomach hurts. However, a 17 year old boy does NOT! And Ben forever refused to drive that truck.

I did one time though. My sister-in-law and I where moving items for a garage sale from her house to mine and we used the truck. We tied down all the items in the back and began driving down Hickory Road. We looked so much like the Beverly Hillbillies that Raton took pictures of it. And since the seat was broken and I could barley reach the peddle with the tip of my big toe, I could only drive 20 miles an hour....no more. It gave all the other drivers plenty of time to laugh and point at us!

Sadly, the redneck truck died one time too many for Mark and he got rid of it right after Christmas this year. But that's not the end of truck buying for Mark. He bought another one. This one large and BRIGHT yellow. We call it the yellow submarine. And he bought it..........

.........

..........

from a dealer, his ebay days are OVER!

Happy Birthday Ben

2009-03-06T03:36:00.001-08:00

Yesterday Ben turned 18. And as he is so fond of reminding me, he is now considered an adult in many ways. He has been teasing me for weeks of all the things he can do when he turns 18....none of them good in my opinion! He can now buy tobacco, lottery tickets, get a tattoo, get piercings, rent porn and my favorite....buy a gun! Yicks....a mother's worst nightmare!

Teasing aside, I have seriously seen him mature and grow more responsible this year as he (and I) prepare for him to leave home in the fall. I was prepared to feel some sadness yesterday. Afterall, it's not easy watching your children grow up and realizing they will never be little again. I heard once that being a mother is like living with your heart outside your body for the rest of your life. An apt description I think.

What I wasn't prepared for yesterday was how proud I felt when looking at him. I remember on his first day of preschool the director, Mrs. Lennon, telling us how this was the first step of giving our children wings. The first letting go. And I remember sitting in that room and thinking "will I ever be ready to really let go?" And the answer is, not really. He may be 18 but he'll always be my child. I'm learning to step aside and let him make his own decisions and his own mistakes but I'll always be here to catch him if he falls. That's just what moms do.

Happy Birthday Ben. I love you with all my heart.

Mom

"Good parents give their children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is, and wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them" - Jonas Salk

What A Weekend!

2009-02-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

On Friday night I loaded up the car and headed to LaPorte, IN with 5 of my girlfriends for a weekend of scrapping.

Now, this is also the weekend the boys would be competing in Anderson, IN for the State High School Bowling Title. I wasn't about to miss this once in a lifetime event!

So, after scrapping until 11:00pm in LaPorte I headed to bed for a couple of hours sleep, got up at 4:00am and drove down to Anderson in time for the 9:00 start. And, it was worth it! Before competition began they announced the members of All-State Academic Team and Ben was selected! That is a huge honor as it is based not just on average, points won, and matches played but also on grade point average and SAT scores.

Then the competition began. The tournament started with 8 of the top boys teams in the state competing for the top 4 spots to make it to the stepladder competition. The Clay boys team hung in there in the 2nd spot until the 6th out of 7 games when they fell to number 4. But that was good enough to move on the the stepladder.

In the first stepladder game they competed against the number 3 team and won! This sent them to the next round against number 2. That is when their dream season reached its conclusion.

This team started and ended their season in the middle of the conference. It wasn't until the post-season play began that they found their groove. And rode it all the way to the state finals.
Where they finished #3 in the state of Indiana. #3 out of 195 boys team competing. And #1 in our hearts. They played this season as a team. And they played it with class. No bickering, no finger pointing and in the end with their heads held high. They accomplished so much more than anyone expected. But they believed they could do it. And darned it they didn't.

After that excitement I drove back to LaPorte and finished out my scrapbook weekend. I managed to complete 11 pages, eat more junk food then I should have, laughed until my stomach ached and had the time of my life.

What a weekend! I'm going to bed now..........

We're Going to State!!!!

2009-02-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the Clay Varisty Boys Bowling Team created school history. They are the first team to win semi-state and the only team ever to compete for the State Title.

I can't decide which is the best part. Having this happen during Ben's senior, and last, season. Or having both the boys part of the starting five. They are experiencing this together and the emotions Mark and I are feeling are indescribable.

So next weekend we will be in Anderson, Indiana cheering on the boys and displaying that colonial pride.!

Here's the winning team and winning trophy from semi-state. Left to right are Trevor, sub #1, Travis who starts in the #1 spot, Aaron, sub #2, Steve who starts in the #2 spot, Ben, team anchor or #4 spot, Andy who starts in the #3 spot, Daniel, #4 spot and anchor. The two on the right are our coaches. On the end is Head Coach Brad who is 22 and next to him is our assistant Coach Mark who is just 19. I wonder if they set a record for the youngest coaches to take a team to state?

Roll on boys.................

Semi-State Bound!!!

2009-02-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

This morning in Peru, Indiana the Clay Bowling Team qualified for Semi-State. At the beginning of last weekend there were 250 teams competing for State. As of this morning we are down to 16 teams remaining. And our boys are one of the 16!

Next Saturday they will compete in semi-state right here in South Bend. And it is being hosted by Chippewa, our home lanes! Nothing like home court advantage to make you smile

Here are some scenes from today:

We're Going To Regionals!

2009-02-04T09:28:00.001-08:00

This past weekend the Clay High School Bowling Team finished as Sectional Runner-up qualifying them to advance to Regionals!

Andy actually finished just 6 pins shy of advancing in singles!

We will be in Peru, Indiana on Saturday, February 7th looking to qualify for semi-state.

Roll on Colonials!................................

Two Teenagers + A Camera

2009-01-29T03:57:00.000-08:00

The weekend of January 17 & 18th was a special one for Ben and Kelli.

On Saturday, the 17th, they got all dressed up and went to dinner and the midwinter dance. On the 18th Ben got tickets to see Wicked in Chicago for Kelli's early birthday gift. Even though Kelli's B-Day is not until February, Wicked ended it's 3 year run at the Oriental Theatre on January 25th.

So, on the morning on the 18th I fed them waffles and eggs and they caught the 9:30 train into the city. They planned on lunch at Ed Debevic's, then on to see Wicked, popcorn at Garrett's and back on the train. In honor of such a special day I sent a camera with them to take photos.

And here's what I got:

What a couple of goofballs........

Midwinter 2009

2009-01-20T04:11:00.000-08:00

Saturday night Ben and Kelli and Andy and Mollie attended the Midwinter Dance. It was Ben's 3rd and Andy's 1st. And they looked great! The girls were so beautiful in their dresses!

Ben and Kelli went to eat at Granite City with their friends and Andy and Mollie went to Carrabba's with their group. Most importantly, despite the wintery weather, they all made it home safe and sound.

Next up.....prom......

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T05:11:00.000-08:00

We celebrated the start of 2009 with our friends Bill and Jackie just like last year. And we had a blast!

We got the kids together and went bowling at Chippewa. Well, the kids call it bowling. We adults call it picking up a heavy ball, throwing it down the lane and praying that it stays out of the gutter!

This year we had a couple of additions to the group. Hannah, Cody's girlfriend and Kelli, Ben's girlfriend came along and added a little bit of beauty to the group!

Afterwards we came back to the house to consume way too much food and act as chaperone's for the kiddos. We stayed in the kitchen playing cribbage, a game I'm not very good at. Poor Bill drew me as a partner! We became determined to keep playing until we won a game against Mark and Jackie. I'm embarrassed to say that it took until 2:30 am for that to happen! Thank God Bill is a patient man!

It was a great way to start the New Year. The end of 2008 brought a few challenges and changes for me (hence my absence from the blogging world) and I'm looking forward to a new year. I've got my feet back under me and am looking forward, not back

Love and Happiness to you all.

Peace,

Lisa

A Perfect Game

2008-11-14T04:02:00.000-08:00

Article published Nov 13, 2008 - South Bend Tribune

PERFECT NIGHT FOR CLAY SENIOR ELLAM

It wasn't until his opponent faltered that Ben Ellam realized he could be perfect. Ellam, a senior and captain of the Clay High School bowling team, made history for his bowling team by throwing a 300 in a sanctioned match against Penn at Chippewa Bowl last week. Bowling since the age of four, the beginning of the match was just like another day at the alley for Ellam. He and his opponent squared off and went pin for pin, dropping strikes one after another until the eighth frame. With only two frames left to finish, Ellam watched as his foe left an open frame. He wanted to take advantage of the mistake and grab the lead in the competition. As easy as his first seven strikes, Ellam delivered yet another perfect ball. However, it was when Ellam returned to wait to pitch his next ball, reality finally sank in on him. "I just wanted to beat him," said Ellam. "He missed in the eighth and I really started to think about it. "What Ellam realized was that he was a few more rolls away from a perfect game. "I knew I had a great shot -- I wasn't too worried," said Ellam. "Everyone else seemed more nervous than me. "Unlike a baseball team that shies away from pitcher with the no-hitter, Ellam's teammates kept things as usual. And it was this sort of strategy that helped him through the first seven frames, so Ellam stuck with it. He was focused more on keeping up with his opponent, so that he really did not think about how good he was doing in the overall match. So now with things getting more tense, a little chatter from the team helped him keep his mind off the situation. As the final frame arrived, and a soft alley, Ellam approached his lane and blew up the pocket. Two quick strikes with one remaining. On his final ball, Ellam found himself with a moment of doubt as he threw his last shot. "There was one pin that wobbled and I didn't think it was going to fall. It was like it was in slow motion," recalled Ellam. "I started walking away, I thought it was going to stay up. I watched out of the corner of my eye as I turned. "The pin did finally fall and Ellam was perfect. "I was relieved, glad it was over with," said Ellam. "This was my second 300, but it was sanctioned, so this one was better. It counted for something. "With a perfect game under his belt during sanctioned play, Ellam has it in the back of his mind about rolling another each time he steps to the hardwood and looks down the lane. "I think about it all the time. It's all I think about until I miss one," joked Ellam. "Then I just relax and bowl. I am good for this year. I got it out of the way. "His real goal for the remainder of the year is to help his team to a fourth consecutive conference title.

RAOGK

2008-11-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

I have been doing Genealogy research on Mark's Ellam side of the family since Ben was in 1st grade. So I guess I've been at it for about 12 years or so. It was his great-grandparents that immigrated from England around 1911 leaving the bulk of the Ellam family behind. I, however, have been able to trace the family back to the 1700's and Mark's 5th great grandfather.

And I've never take a trip across the pond to do the research.

The internet is a wonderful source of information as are sites like Ancestry.com and Rootsweb.com. But, it's the wonderful volunteers on internet boards who have been my biggest help. And, 99% of the time, at no cost to me. I felt compelled to give back but wasn't sure how.

A couple of years ago I ran across the site RAOGK (Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness). Volunteers from around the country and even from around the world sign up and offer to do research in their home counties for those who can't make the trip themselves. I immediately "heard" my calling and asked mom to join me. We've been volunteers for a year now for St. Joseph County and are currently the only volunteers for this county. In other words, we stay busy! But we LOVE it. We've had some of the most amazing experiences and learned so much about the history of South Bend by digging into the archives.

Sometimes the requests lead us to strange places like this past week's trip to Walkerton to take a grave stone photo request. The records for this particular cemetery were gathering dust in someone's basement. And that someone invited us into her home to take a peek. Sometimes the requests touch our hearts. Like being asked to please visit a someone's grave by a relative who can't make the trip and to "please tell the deceased that they are loved". We do it all. And it pays off for us in terms of the help we receive in our own research. What comes around goes around so they say.

There are those people in my life that don't understand my interest in genealogy or why I love old cemeteries and they all ask the same question.

Why?

I've never been able to really put that answer into words but this morning I ran across a piece of paper I copied from somewhere that answers it perfectly. Sadly, the author is unknown. But it describes perfectly why I keep looking for "dead relatives". They aren't really dead to me. They all have stories to tell and I'm anxious to hear them all.

THE STORY TELLERS

We are the chosen.

My feeling are in each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.

To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called as it were by our genes.

Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story. So, we do.

In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How any graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do.

It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it.

It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today.

It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.

It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do.

With live and caring and scribing each facts of their existence, because we are them and they are us.

So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers.

That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.

A Proud Mama

2008-10-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Andy and his girlfriend Mollie attended a Sweet 16 birthday party for one of Mollie's friends. The dress code was formal. Since I wasn't home to see Andy get ready for the party Mark took pictures for me. Mark did a good job and Andy cleaned up well!

I didn't get a photo of Mollie in her dress but I don't want to leave her out! Here they are on Saturday at the Bowling Tournament.

The Ellam Brothers

2008-10-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

Bowling at Clay High School has a reputation to uphold. We are always the team the rest of the conference are gunning for with good reason. We've won conference the last 3 years in a row and should have no problem taking the title again this year.

The year before last one of the members of the girl's team won state and was elected the female bowler of the year in the state of Indiana. Last year one of our coaches was named Indiana High School Bowling Coach of the Year. A well deserved honor.

But this year Clay has a secret weapon.....The Ellam Brothers.

They were both on varsity last year but with Andy just a freshman he didn't bowl on a team with Ben much. But not this year. So far for the first two season scrambles and this past weekend's Tournament they have bowled together. With tremendous results! They are kicking it and taking names!

And mom and dad are having a blast watching!

It Could Be Worse.

2008-10-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I had lunch with a friend. During the general “kibitzing” we did about our children she made a comment that has stayed with me all week and bounced around in the back of my head.

It Could Be Worse…..

And it immediately took me back to a day 6 months ago when it was worse. So much worse.

But that’s the end of the story, not the beginning.

In Sept. 2001, just a week or so after 9/11, Mark, Ben, Andy and I moved to Tampa, Florida. It was a difficult move for all of us. Mark was moving to the Corporate Office, the boys were moving to a new school and I was leaving behind my family and friends. After a couple of weeks just sitting in the house and going stir crazy I made a call to the boys new school and practically begged them to give me something to do! That afternoon the President of the PTA called and saved my sanity.

Her name was/is Grace and she immediately put me to work in the school volunteering. Grace was also my neighbor and soon my friend. She took me and the boys on a tour of Tampa along with her two boys Joe and Josh. (Joe was a couple of years older than Ben and Josh fell right in between Ben and Andy.) We had a blast and Grace and I remained close. As our boys moved from the Elementary school to the Middle School Grace and I stayed involved in the schools and our love of scrapbooking kept us close.

In 2005 Grace, Terry, Joe and Josh were transferred to Boston. And I mourned the “loss” of a very good friend. Although with Grace, she never really leaves your life. If I saw her tomorrow we would pick right up with our last conversation and carry on as if we had never been separated by distance.

In 2006 Mark, Ben, Andy and I moved back to Indiana and with the adjustment of that move I began to lose touch with some people, Grace being one of them. Then in April of this year Grace and I reconnected by way of the internet. We had a great time catching each other up on our lives and the lives of the boys. Joe had just finished his first year of College and was still living at home. Josh was in High School and still having a hard time adjusting to the move. But the boys were still very close. Every Sunday Joe and Josh would go paintballing at the local park and then have dinner together at Dairy Queen on their way home.

On Mother’s Day of this year, Joe and Josh had gone paintballing and stopped at Dairy Queen as usual. Grace was in Texas visiting her mother for Mother’s Day and had called Josh’s cell phone to talk to them. As she said goodbye she told Josh “you know I love you boys”. “Tell Joe Joe to be careful”. And the line went dead.

At that moment a drunk driver came across the center lane of the highway and struck the boys head on. Joe died instantly. Josh was pulled from the car and taken to the hospital and thankfully has recovered.

At least from his injuries, but not from the loss of his brother whom he adored.

At the funeral Grace said “Joe always said he wanted to live with us forever. Forever turned out to be 19 years”.

I know for those of us who knew Joe and even those who didn’t, he isn’t far from our minds nor are Grace, Terry and Josh. Joe was a delight and I feel privileged to have known him.

It is important for me to remember when life gets me down to be thankful for what I have. Never take anything for granted. Stop and look around as I run through my days and take a moment to appreciate all I have been given. Because, sadly, as much as I sometimes feel overwhelmed and frustrated…….

It Could Be Worse.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1880505459/Family-mourns-son-who-died-in-Hopedale-crash

Here's one for all moms......

2008-10-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

5 Things

2008-10-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

1 thing I did today:

Took Ben to have his wisdom teeth pulled. The bottom two were coming in sideways and the top two were coming in at an angle. Can't mess up his $5000.00 smile! I'm thankful that he did well but will be happy when he is fully back to normal.

2 things left on my to do list today:

1. Let Ninja out AGAIN. Dog sitting ends tonight!
2. Make dinner. Pancakes and eggs. I hope Ben can eat okay.

3 secret wishes I have:

1. That Ben will choose Manchester for college.
2. That Andy will take pass his drivers test.
3. That Mark will continue eating healthy and exercising. I want to keep him around for a long, long time!

4 things I'm looking forward to this weekend:

1. Scentsy Party at Patty's
2. Archives Alive! at IUSB
3. Lia Sophia party on Sunday
4. Amazing Race!

5 things I need to accomplish this winter:

1. Complete Ben's High School Scrapbook. Or at least get it up to date.
2. Paint our bedroom.
3. Figure out how to use Powerpoint
4. Plan Ben's graduation party
5. Lose 30 pounds!!!!

Indiana State Bowling Results are in.......

2008-09-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

and Andy's team took FIRST in state for Division 2. He and his doubles partner ended up 10th in State.

Ben and his doubles partner (a fill in since his normal partner didn't show up) took 7th in state for Division 1.

Way to go boys!

Just between you and me, don't you think the First Place Trophy should have been a tad bit bigger? :)

And the rain keeps falling down, down, down.....

2008-09-14T10:28:00.000-07:00

It started raining on Friday and we have gotten over 7" by today, Sunday. We even made the Weather Channel yesterday!

Our little pond has turned into a small lake. We did need some rain but this is ridiculous!

EDIT: Over Fri/Sat/Sun we received 11.45" of rain from the remnants of Ike. That is a record setting amount of rain for South Bend. Some of our family and friends are without power and water. A couple of roads have sections that washed out and many have caution High Water signs taking them down to one lane. Where is all this water going to go?!?!?

His Last First Day

2008-08-12T13:38:00.001-07:00

Every year I take a picture of Ben and Andy to document their first day of school. I clearly remember Ben's first day of kindergarten and taking his picture before he got on the bus. (And then following that bus in my car to make sure he made it there okay.....a whole two blocks away!)

I knew then that this day would come eventually. The day I would be taking his last first day of school picture. I had no idea then how quickly that day would arrive.

Reality has set in......our son is a senior.

My First Tag

2008-07-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kim I've been tagged for the first time! So here goes:

Ten Years Ago: Well, I was 35 years old. Ben was just 7 and Andy was only 5. Andy was getting ready to start kindergarten at Swanson and Ben was entering the 2nd grade. I was working part-time in my parents business and Mark was still working for American Door. I never could have imagined that a couple years later we would be transferred to Tampa and would spend 5 wonderful years there. Nor could I imagine that we would ever return to South Bend.

Five things on today's to do list:
Since we just got home from the lake and college visits my to do list is LONG…
1. Laundry
2. Grocery Shopping – Ben claims we have NO food in the house.
3. Abby’s birthday party
4. Pay Bills
5. Make a list of things to do for tomorrow!

Snacks I enjoy: Depends if I’m craving salty or sweet. If it’s salty I’ll go for Cool Ranch Doritos. If I’m looking for something sweet then it’s Oreos and milk all the way!

Things I would do if I were a millionaire: Pay for college for Ben and Andy and buy a lake cottage. I’d also donate to Hospice….

Places I have lived: South Bend, Indiana (including a house in Mishawaka and current home in Granger) and Tampa, Florida. I also spent a year in college in North Manchester, Indiana.

Hey, that was fun and a quick way to get a post in!

Martha Jean Stephens

2008-06-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

My grandmother died last week. She was 86 years old and had been in a nursing home for years. Although it was not unexpected it still hurt.

At the funeral on Friday the Chaplain invited anyone who wanted to come up and say a few words about grandma. I had no intention of speaking but somehow I felt moved to share my memories and found myself standing at the podium.

I really don't remember everything I said. I spoke through tears but I spoke from my heart.

It's only now, 3 days later, that I'm wishing I had said more. There are so many things I should have said, and would have said, had I been prepared.

And I'd like to say them here.

Thank you grandma for the purple satin hat you kept in a "dress up" box when I was young. I loved that hat and have more than a couple of pictures of me wearing it.

Thank you for saving your McCall's magazine so I could cut out the Betsey McCall paper doll every month.

Thank you for waffle cookies in the tin stored in the oven. And for homemade noodles drying on newspaper on the kitchen table.

Thank you for Christmas Eve's at your house with pork tenderloins and pickled eggs. Thank you for letting me ring that little bell you kept on the Christmas tree and for giving me that bell when grandpa died. It's the most precious ornament on my tree every year.

Thank you for letting me "help" you wash the dishes when I was young. You had that sprayer attachment on your sink and I loved rinsing the dishes with it. I remember mom telling me to be careful and you saying "oh, she's fine". I wonder now how many times you had to change your clothes after I helped.

Thank you for teaching me to play cards and for teaching me how to win. Thank you for sharing your love of the Chicago Cubs with my sons. Although Ben wishes you would have picked a team with a better record of wins!

Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Every child should have someone love them the way you did. And thank you for loving grandpa. We all know how much you missed him after he died.

And that's where I'm finding peace. Knowing you are with grandpa now. And all your sisters and brother and parents and grandparents. And that I'll see you again someday.

Goodbye grandma...I'll miss you.

A New Milestone

2008-06-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

Both of my boys are now teenagers and closer to leaving home than I like. Ben will be a senior this year and Andy will be a sophomore.

Looking back I can remember every milestone they reached: first word, first tooth, first step, first day of school. And the truly glorious ones of learning to tie their own shoes, potty training and the ability to dress themselves!

As they've gotten older the milestones are not so life changing but they still mark the passing of time. First day of high school, first prom, first job and the first time they drive away in the car by themselves.

Today a new milestone was passed for Andy. Today he got his learners permit. And I was driven home from the license branch by my 15 year old for the first time.

One more milestone for both of us to face. My baby is growing up and getting closer to stepping out on his own. I hope we are both ready.

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots; the other, wings.
-William Hodding Carter, Jr.

Baseball at the Cove

2008-04-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

Back in 1988 the Chicago White Sox built a stadium here in South Bend for their single A feeder baseball team. When the boys were little they loved to go to the Cove to watch the games and try to get autographs from the players. We'd get there early and they would hang around the fence behind the dugout with their baseballs and sharpie pens. After the game you could stay and the kids could run the bases.

When the boys got a little older they went to baseball camp there. For a small fee, and membership into Swoops Fan Club, they got to spend the mornings for one week each summer learning the game from the players themselves. This is where Ben first developed his love for baseball.

Last year Ben got his first job working at the Cove. He was the popcorn boy on the 3rd baseline concourse. Although it didn't pay much it was free admission into the home games and free popcorn refills for his buddies!

Well baseball at the Cove has come full circle. Who would have ever thought when Ben was just a little boy that someday he would be playing an actual game on that field. As starting 3rd baseman on the high school varsity team Ben took the field last week for a game. And as I watched him run those bases as a 17 year old I could still picture him running those same bases as a 7 year old. I felt many emotions but most of all I felt.......proud.

"And in today already walks tomorrow"

Prom 2008

2008-04-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Ben from Prom night on Saturday.

Go ahead you can say it....I know you're thinking it....How HANDSOME is he?!?!? Very, thank you very much.

Here's one of Ben and his date with the whole group:

Amazing how a group of teenage boys can clean up! I guess they had a good time. Trying to get information out of my 17 year old son is just like pulling teeth. I ask the questions and he grunts the answers! Anyway, I do know that they had dinner at Houlihan's and that the prom was held downtown at the Century Center. Same location as my Junior and Senior proms oh so many years ago. Where has the time gone?

How I Survived Six Months of Winter

2008-04-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

In a word....BARELY.

This is a picture of the view off my deck on New Year's Day. This is the type of winter I remember from my childhood. You know...fluffy white flakes, huge snowbanks to climb on, snowball fights and snow fort building. The type of winter we all dream of at Christmas time. Unfortunately, that's not the type of winter we have in northern Indiana.

Our winters begin in October and end sometime in April. And they are dreary. Grey, cloudy, wet, cold kind of dreary. And they last....for.....six.....months.

Now, it's no secret that I have been depressed since our move back to Indiana from Florida in 2006. But along about January this year I was so sad I couldn't take it anymore and decided to get help for this nagging glumness.

First up I went to see my general M.D. He listened to my complaints and prescribed Xanex. I got the prescription filled, went home, cut the pill in half, took it and promptly fell asleep. Now that's one way to get through six months of winter but not very practical for my life!

Next up I went to see a nutritionist. She listened to my complaints and prescribed a new diet. All organic and none of the good tasting stuff allowed. I bought the food for the diet and all the vitamins she suggested. Went home and tried to follow the plan. But honestly, how many of you eat prunes for a midday snack?!?!? A couple of hundred dollars and a week later I gave up the natural life and went back to my junk food existence.

Along about this time Mark got a letter from his Employee Assistance Program reminding him of the FREE services they offer. So I called the number and got an appointment with a counselor. She listened to my complaints and must have found the stories of my dysfunctional family entertaining because she had me come back the max amount of sessions....six. I kept going back because it was free and I kinda enjoying complaining to a total stranger. But in the end....I didn't feel any better. She referred me to a therapist.

My first appointment with my new therapist seemed promising. She listened to my complaints and my stories and actually had some good insights. After a couple of sessions she diagnosed me as having Seasonal Affective Disorder and recommended a light that I was suppose to buy and sit in front of 30 minutes a day. Off to the home medical store I went to purchase my light and got the sticker shock of my life. $200.00 for artificial sun!!! I can buy a plane ticket to Florida for that amount! I left the store empty handed and went home.

When Mark got home that night I told him the therapist recommended a trip to Florida. And so, in February I got a 5 day trip to Orlando and Walt Disney World. Instantly, the depression lifted. Now that's what I call good medicine!

The Money Pit

2007-11-13T02:48:00.000-08:00

1986: Tom Hanks and Shelley Long star in a hilarious movie about buying a house that seems perfect on the outside but once they move in they discover it is falling apart. I love that movie, I own that movie..............I'm living that movie, seriously.

2006: we have just moved back to Indiana from Florida and are all four living in a tiny 2 bedroom condo. We spent 5 months looking at houses and trying to find the "perfect" house for us. On a cold and snowy day we find it! It is a beautiful 6 bedroom house on the golf course. A newly remodeled kitchen and two fireplaces, one in the family room and one in the KITCHEN! The fires were going in the fireplaces, the candles were burning, christmas music was playing, and the price was surprisingly cheap! (at least by Florida standards). The trap was set and we stepped right into it. Suckers that we are we bought that house the same day.

Shortly after moving in and redoing two of the bedrooms on the lower level for my 16 year old said bedrooms flooded. The new carpet was ruined the drywall was ruined the new trim was ruined....well, you get the picture. This fix required a building engineer, a drywaller and involved removing all the landscape on the front of the house and installing a drainage system on the outside. Thus requiring all new landscaping in the front of the house. The building engineer told us that this had obviously happened before and since we had the house inspected we contacted our Realtor about the issue. Long story and two real estate attorneys later we were told if we couldn't locate an invoice for a previous repair we couldn't prove the sellers knew about the problem.

Next, the shower in the lower level had a leak. We contacted the plumber who did the inspection (yep, had that inspected too). He tells us there is a crack in the drain pan and claims it wasn't there when he did the inspection. Yeah, right. So we need to replace the drain pan. The shower was old so we decided to just replace the shower unit also. We did the demo ourselves to save money and besides, I love to tear things apart! Halfway into the tear down we notice something that looks like wood rot.....no wait......maybe it's.....yep it is.......TERMITES. So, I called the inspector (yep, had that inspected too) and he comes out. Says the termites were hiding inside the wall and he had no way of knowing they were there. Points out the contract I signed that states they are not responsible for termites in areas they can't access. Several thousand dollars later the whole house is treated for termites. Well, at least that explains one thing........now we know why the woodpeckers are destroying the siding on the back and east side of the house. Heavy sigh.

I won't go into the details of how we lose water in the house when the water softener runs (also inspected), the flood in the kitchen when the plumbing under the sink gave way, seeped into the lower level and part of our brand new family room ceiling came crashing down on our brand new family room furniture and carpet (see previous plumbing inspection), etc..... Well, last week I decided I had enough. I was taking control of this house. This house was not going to beat me. I had a real Rocky Balboa moment there and got on the phone. I called the septic people to come and pump out the system, I called the water softner people to come fix the water softner (4th repair in 14 months and also inspected) and I called the plumber to come and fix the drains in the upstairs bathroom and the lower level NEW shower. I felt good, I felt in control and last night............the phones in the house went out.........again.

Sometimes you just can't win......

"Every path has its puddles"

I accept that challenge

2007-11-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

I am a blog addict. I read many blogs everyday and chat online about them with my cyber friends. Lately I've had enough. It seems to me that everyone posts about their perfect families and perfect houses and perfect lives and I'm here to say NOBODY's life is that perfect all the time. So, after complaining to my BFF Kim this morning she sent me this challenge:

CHALLENGE

I challenge you to write a blog about your life. For people to get to know Lisa. I challenge you to post twice a week and share a recipe one of those posts! Some of us need to read an uplifting blog about a "normal" person with a normal family and it's everyday challenges. No family is perfect. There............................

Well Kim, I accept that challenge.

So for a first post I'll list my accomplishments as I see them.

First of all I love to scrapbook but only for my own enjoyment. I don't submit layouts, I don't teach classess and I don't read "certain" message boards.

I feed my family dinner most every night but the meals, for the most part, would not be considered homemade. I am working on that and am learning to enjoy preparing a meal.

I have been married 22 years to my high school sweetheart and not all of them have been rosy. I am the mother of two teenage boys 16 and 14. My 14 year old is actually pretty close to perfect, okay so I'm biased, and my 16 year old makes me laugh but gives me my gray hairs!

I am born and raised in Indiana with a too brief layover in Tampa, Florida. I'm now back in Indiana where my entire family lives within miles of each other.

So here is my recipe. It's a simple one that I learned in the cooking classes that my husband and I are currently taking. Perfect for Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Dip

1-5 oz. package vanilla instant pudding mix
1-15 oz. can solid packed pumpkin
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. ground allspice
8 oz. cool whip
Add milk to vanilla pudding according to package directions. Whip in brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg for 2 minutes, until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in whipped cream until combined. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Keep cold until serving time. Serve with cinnamon graham crackers, gingersnaps, sliced apples or other sliced fruits. Yield about 3 cups.

Enjoy!

I am aware that I am less than some people prefer me to be. But most people are unaware that I am so much more than what they see. - Douglas Pagels